Uses of bremelanotide in therapy for female sexual dysfunction

ABSTRACT

Use of a subcutaneously administered dose of between about 1.25 mg and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction in women while reducing or minimizing undesirable side effects.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.14/704,223, entitled “Uses of Bremelanotide in Therapy for Female SexualDysfunction”, filed May 5, 2015, which will issue as U.S. Pat. No.9,700,592, on Jul. 11, 2017; which in turn is a continuation applicationof International Application No. PCT/US13/68386, published asInternational Publication No. WO 2014/071339, entitled “Uses ofBremelanotide in Therapy for Female Sexual Dysfunction”, filed on Nov.5, 2013; which in turn claims priority to and the benefit of the filingof U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/722,511 entitled“Uses of Melanocortin Agonists in Therapy for Female SexualDysfunction”, filed Nov. 5, 2012; and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/770,535 entitled “Uses of Bremelanotide inTherapy for Female Sexual Dysfunction”, filed Feb. 28, 2013; and isrelated to U.S. Ser. No. 14/313,258, entitled “Uses of Bremelanotide inTherapy for Female Sexual Dysfunction”, filed Jun. 24, 2014, whichissued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,352,013, on May 31, 2016; and thespecification and claims of each of the foregoing are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention (Technical Field)

The present invention relates to formulations and methods for treatmentof sexual dysfunction, including female sexual dysfunction, byadministration of selected doses of a melanocortin agonist. Inparticular, the present invention relates to methods for the treatmentof female sexual dysfunction while reducing or minimizing side-effects,or adverse effects, associated with the administration of melanocortinagonists. More specifically, the invention relates to the pharmaceuticalcompositions in which the melanocortin agonist is bremelanotide andmethods in which these pharmaceutical compositions are administered topatients for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction, includingspecifically female sexual dysfunction in premenopausal women, whilereducing or minimizing side effects.

Description of Related Art

Note that the following discussion refers to a number of publications byauthor(s) and year of publication, and that due to recent publicationdates certain publications are not to be considered as prior artvis-a-vis the present invention. Discussion of such publications hereinis given for more complete background and is not to be construed as anadmission that such publications are prior art for patentabilitydetermination purposes.

It is known that agonists of the melanocortin receptor, and particularmelanocortin 4 receptor (MC4-R) agonists, may be employed for treatmentof sexual dysfunction. See, for example, L. H. T. Van der Ploeg, W. J.Martin, A. D. Howard, R. P. Nargund et al., A role for the melanocortin4 receptor in sexual function. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:11381-86(2002). The cyclic, heptapeptide melanocortin receptor agonistAc-Nle-cyclo(-Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys)-OH, with the USAN adopted namebremelanotide and formerly known as PT-141, as further disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,579,968 and 6,794,489, has been employed in clinical trialsfor sexual dysfunction, including both male erectile dysfunction (ED)and female sexual dysfunction or disorder (FSD).

There has been substantial progress in the definition and classificationof the range of disorders that comprise FSD. The Diagnostic andStatistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4^(th) edition (DSM-IV)recognizes four major disorders that define FSD: decreased sexualdesire, decreased sexual arousal, dyspareunia, and difficulty inachieving orgasm. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic andStatistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4^(th) ed, text revision ed.Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., 2000. In theUnited States approximately 43% of adult women experience some form offemale sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) and/or hypoactive sexual desiredisorder (HSDD), with approximately 22% of these women reporting beingdistressed by their sexual dysfunction. E. O. Laumann, A. Paik and R. C.Rosen, Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence andpredictors. JAMA 281:537-544 (1999); and, J. L. Shifren, B. U. Monz, P.A. Russo, A. Segreti and C. B. Johannes, Sexual problems and distress inUnited States women: prevalence and correlates. Obstet Gynecol112:970-978 (2008). The current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual ofMental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), released in May 2013 by theAmerican Psychiatric Association, revised the classification of femalesexual dysfunction, replacing FSAD and HSDD with a new diagnosis offemale sexual interest and arousal disorder (FSI/AD), and expanding thecurrent concept of FSD to include receptivity to and initiation ofsexual activity as part of the diagnostic heuristic. However,definitions of FSAD and HSDD remain in use, and are consistent with thedescription of female sexual dysfunction in the current version of theInternational Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).

Sexual therapy and education presently form the basis of treatment forFSAD and/or HSDD. Pharmaceutical treatments are limited; no drug iscurrently approved in the United States and one drug was approved in theEuropean Union but subsequently withdrawn (INTRINSA®, a testosteronetransdermal patch previously marketed by Warner Chilcott).

The female sexual response cycle is complex and dependent onphysiological, psychological, and social factors. For many women,spontaneous desire is not the motivating factor to engage in sexualactivity. Frequently, desire is a consequence of subjective arousalcaused by a variety of sexual stimuli. An understanding of the femalesexual response cycle provides a basis for the design and development ofpharmacological interventions for treating FSAD and/or HSDD.

The mechanisms and corresponding pharmaceutical therapies underlyingfemale sexual response are different from those underlying male sexualresponse. For instance, male sexual response involves both centralnervous system function as well as nitric oxide production leading to anincrease in blood flow to the penis. Conversely, female sexual responseis dominated by central nervous system function, while the nitric oxideproduction pathway is of minor importance compared to results in men.Therefore, while therapies for treatment of male sexual dysfunction canbe targeted to either or both mechanisms of action, therapies fortreatment of female sexual dysfunction typically must be targeted to andmust rely on the central nervous system function. A. M. Shadiack, S. D.Sharma, D. C. Earle, C. Spana and T. J. Hallam, Melanocortins in theTreatment of Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction. Current Topics inMedicinal Chemistry 7:1137-1144 (2007). Thus phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE-5)inhibitors such as sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil are effective inmen with erectile dysfunction through a mechanism involving selectiveinhibition of PDE-5, thereby preventing the hydrolysis of cyclicguanosine monophosphate, resulting in increased blood flow to the penis.However, in women with female sexual dysfunction while PDE-5 inhibitorshave some effect on genital vasocongestion, the drugs have little or noeffect on treatment of female sexual dysfunction, including treatment ofsexual arousal problems. M. L. Chivers and R. C. Rosen,Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and female sexual response: faultyprotocols or paradigms? J. Sex. Med. 7:858-72 (2010).

Both animal and human studies have suggested that bremelanotide hascentral nervous system effects unrelated to local genitalvasocongestion. In animal studies utilizing female rats, a selectivepharmacological effect on appetitive sexual behavior was observed, withsubcutaneous injections of bremelanotide inducing the immediate-earlygene product Fos in a variety of limbic and hypothalamic structures, andincreasing dopamine release in the medial preoptic area. J. G. Pfaus, A.Shadiack, T. Van Soest, M. Tse and P. Molinoff, Selective facilitationof sexual solicitation in the female rat by a melanocortin receptoragonist. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:10201-4 (2004); J. Pfaus, F.Giuliano and H. Gelez, Bremelanotide: an overview of preclinical CNSeffects on female sexual dysfunction. J. Sex. Med. 4:269-279 (2007). Inhumans, statistically relevant reported feelings of sexual arousal inwomen diagnosed with sexual arousal disorder were observed following asingle intranasal dose of 20 mg of bremelanotide, but withoutstatistically relevant differences, compared to placebo, in vaginalpulse amplitude measures. L. E. Diamond, D. C. Earle, J. R. Heiman, R.C. Rosen, M. A. Perelman and R. Harning, An effect on the subjectivesexual response in premenopausal women with sexual arousal disorder bybremelanotide (PT-141), a melanocortin receptor agonist. J. Sex. Med.3:628-638 (2006). This is in contrast to the effect in men diagnosedwith erectile dysfunction, where statistically significant erectileresponse compared to placebo, as determined by a plethysographic devicemeasuring penile responses, with concomitant increased blood flow in thegenital region, were seen with subcutaneous injection of either a 4 or 6mg dose of bremelanotide. Shadiack, 2007, supra.

It has been reported in the literature that MC4-R agonists induce anadrenergic response, resulting in an increase in blood pressure andheart rate. See, for example, J. J. Kuo, A. A. Silva and J. E. Hall,Hypothalamic melanocortin receptors and chronic regulation of arterialpressure and renal function. Hypertension 41:768-774 (2003); J. J. Kuo,A. A. da Silva, L. S. Tallam and J. E. Hall, Role of adrenergic activityin pressor responses to chronic melanocortin receptor activation.Hypertension 43:370-375 (2004); U. Nordheim, J. R. Nicholson, K.Dokladny, P. Dunant and K. G. Hofbauer, Cardiovascular responses tomelanocortin 4-receptor stimulation in conscious unrestrainednormotensive rats. Peptides 27:438-443 (2006).

Adverse events have been observed with melanocortin agonists, includingbremelanotide, primarily relating to an increase in blood pressure, andnausea and vomiting, both immediate and delayed.

There is a need for a therapeutic method for treatment of sexualdysfunction, including but not limited to FSD, by means ofadministration of a melanocortin agonist which provides the desiredtherapeutic benefit, but which does not induce, or does notsignificantly induce, or which reduces or minimizes adversecardiovascular and other effects, such adverse effects including but notlimited to increases in systolic blood pressure, diastolic bloodpressure, heart rate or incidence of nausea or vomiting. It is againstthis background that the invention was made.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provided herein are methods for treating FSD in a female patientdiagnosed with FSD and anticipating sexual activity by administration ofa low dose of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof. The low dose may be administered via subcutaneous injection.The low doses of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof as provided herein were found to be efficacious, despiteprevious indications that a higher dose may be required to treat FSD.The low doses of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof as provided herein were also found to be associated with fewerside effects compared to administration of higher doses of the compound.Administration by subcutaneous injection resulted in a significantlylower % CV at peak plasma concentration in a patient population,compared to % CV at peak plasma concentration in a patient populationadministered bremelanotide or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereofby intranasal administration. The compositions and methods providedherein, including, without limitation, when administered by subcutaneousinjection, may additionally be associated with lower side effectscompared to intranasal administration of a comparable dose, such as acomparable dose based on peak plasma concentration within 60 minutesafter administration of bremelanotide.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for treating FSD in afemale patient diagnosed with FSD and anticipating sexual activity,while reducing side effects associated with the administration ofbremelanotide, comprising administering the female patient bysubcutaneous injection a composition comprising no more than about 1.75mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt ofbremelanotide, thereby treating FSD while reducing undesirable sideeffects. In one aspect of this method, no more than 1.25 mg ofbremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide isadministered by subcutaneous injection. In another aspect, between about1.00 and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltof bremelanotide is administered. In yet another aspect, between about1.25 and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltof bremelanotide is administered.

The composition for subcutaneous injection may be an aqueous solutioncomprising acetate salt of bremelanotide and glycerin. In one aspect,the composition is an aqueous solution consisting essentially of acetatesalt of bremelanotide and 2.5% glycerin (w/v). The acetate salt ofbremelanotide may be between about 6% and 12% (w/w) acetic acid in anaqueous solution of bremelanotide. In one aspect, the composition is ata pH of about 5.0, and further comprises agents to adjust pH, whichagents to adjust pH may comprise, without limitation, hydrochloric acidand sodium hydroxide.

In another aspect, the undesirable side effects that are reduced areselected from the group consisting of nausea, emesis, flushing and anincrease in blood pressure. In one aspect, the female patient ispremenopausal, and in another aspect, the female patient ispostmenopausal.

The invention further provides for use of a formulation dose comprisingno more than about 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt of bremelanotide in the manufacture of a subcutaneousinjectable medicament for the treatment of FSD in a female patientdiagnosed with FSD and anticipating sexual activity. In a relatedaspect, the formulation dose comprises between about 1.00 and 1.75 mg ofbremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide, orbetween about 1.25 and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt of bremelanotide.

In another aspect the invention provides a prefilled dose unitcomprising an aqueous solution of acetate salt of no more than about1.75 mg of bremelanotide. The prefilled dose unit may include aprefilled syringe, or may include a cartridge adapted for use in asubcutaneous administration drug delivery device.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for treating FSDin a female patient diagnosed with FSD and anticipating sexual activity,while reducing side effects associated with the administration ofbremelanotide, comprising administering the female patient bysubcutaneous injection a composition comprising bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide in an amountsufficient to result in a peak plasma concentration within 60 minutesafter administration of bremelanotide in the female patient of no morethan about 120 ng/mL, thereby treating FSD while reducing undesirableside effects. In a related aspect, the invention provides a method fortreating FSD in a female patient diagnosed with FSD and anticipatingsexual activity, while reducing side effects associated with theadministration of bremelanotide, comprising administering the femalepatient by subcutaneous injection a composition comprising bremelanotideor a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide in an amountsufficient to result in a peak plasma concentration with 60 minutesresulting from subcutaneous administration of a dose of between about1.0 mg and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt of bremelanotide, thereby treating FSD while reducing undesirableside effects.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for treating FSDin a female patient diagnosed with FSD and anticipating sexual activity,while reducing side effects associated with the administration ofbremelanotide, comprising administering the female patient bysubcutaneous injection a composition comprising no more than about 1.75mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt ofbremelanotide, thereby treating FSD while reducing one or more sideeffects compared to intranasal administration of an equivalent dosage ofbremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide. Insome embodiments, the side effects comprise one or more of nausea,flushing, headache, changes in systolic blood pressure, changes indiastolic blood pressure, changes in heart rate, vomiting, andhypertension. The equivalent dosage of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide comprises a doseresulting in a substantially similar peak plasma concentration within 60minutes after administration of bremelanotide compared to subcutaneousinjection of the composition comprising no more than about 1.75 mg ofbremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide.The substantially similar peak plasma concentration can be a mean peakplasma concentration in a patient population of between about 60 and 120ng/mL of bremelanotide. In one aspect of the method, no more than 1.25mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt ofbremelanotide is administered by subcutaneous injection. In anotheraspect, between about 1.00 and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide is administered, oralternatively between about 1.25 and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide is administered. Thecomposition of the method can be an aqueous solution comprising acetatesalt of bremelanotide and glycerin, and can consist essentially ofacetate salt of bremelanotide and 2.5% glycerin (w/v). In such solution,the acetate salt of bremelanotide is between about 6% and 12% (w/w)acetic acid in an aqueous solution of bremelanotide. The composition canbe at a pH of about 5.0, and further comprise one or more agents toadjust pH, including where the one or more agents to adjust pH comprisehydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. In the method, the femalepatient may be premenopausal or alternatively postmenopausal. Thevariability in peak plasma concentration within 60 minutes aftersubcutaneous injection administration is a % CV less than 30. Reductionin side effects comprises the variability in peak plasma concentrationwithin 60 minutes after subcutaneous injection administration of thecomposition comprising no more than about 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide being is less than thevariability in peak plasma concentration within 60 minutes afterintranasal administration of bremelanotide or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt of bremelanotide. The variability in peak plasmaconcentration within 60 minutes after intranasal administration can be a% CV greater than 30. Variability in peak plasma concentration can bedetermined in a patient population.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for treating FSDin a female patient diagnosed with FSD and anticipating sexual activitycomprising administering the female patient by subcutaneous injection acomposition comprising no more than about 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide, thereby treating FSD,wherein the treatment has increased efficacy compared to intranasaladministration of an equivalent dosage of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide. In some embodiments,the increased efficacy is indicated by an increase in frequency ofsatisfying sexual events upon administration of the bremelanotide orpharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Increased efficacy may beindicated by an increase in frequency of satisfying sexual events uponadministration of the bremelanotide or pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof, or by improved overall sexual function, including whereimproved overall sexual function is measured by the Female SexualFunction Index, such as a Female Sexual Function Index total scoreimprovement of 3 or greater. Increased efficacy may also be indicated byreduced associated distress related to sexual dysfunction, includingwhere reduced associated distress related to sexual dysfunction ismeasured by the Female Sexual Distress Scale-DAO. In this method, anequivalent dosage of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltof bremelanotide comprises a dose resulting in a substantially similarpeak plasma concentration within 60 minutes after administration ofbremelanotide compared to subcutaneous injection of the compositioncomprising no more than about 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide. The substantiallysimilar peak plasma concentration may be a mean peak plasmaconcentration of between about 60 and 120 ng/mL of bremelanotide in apatient population. In one aspect of the method, no more than 1.25 mg ofbremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide isadministered by subcutaneous injection, or alternatively between about1.00 and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltof bremelanotide, or alternatively between about 1.25 and 1.75 mg ofbremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide isadministered. The composition of the method can be an aqueous solutioncomprising acetate salt of bremelanotide and glycerin, and can consistessentially of acetate salt of bremelanotide and 2.5% glycerin (w/v). Insuch solution, the acetate salt of bremelanotide is between about 6% and12% (w/w) acetic acid in an aqueous solution of bremelanotide. Thecomposition can be at a pH of about 5.0, and further comprise one ormore agents to adjust pH, including where the one or more agents toadjust pH comprise hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. In themethod, the female patient may be premenopausal or alternativelypostmenopausal.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides for use of a formulationdose comprising no more than about 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide in the manufacture ofa subcutaneous injectable medicament for the treatment of FSD in afemale patient diagnosed with FSD and anticipating sexual activity. Suchformulation may comprise no more than 1.25 mg of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide, and may furthercomprise between about 1.00 and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide or alternativelybetween about 1.25 and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt of bremelanotide. The formulation of this use can be anaqueous solution comprising acetate salt of bremelanotide and glycerin,and can consist essentially of acetate salt of bremelanotide and 2.5%glycerin (w/v). In such solution, the acetate salt of bremelanotide isbetween about 6% and 12% (w/w) acetic acid in an aqueous solution ofbremelanotide. The formulation can be at a pH of about 5.0, and furthercomprise one or more agents to adjust pH, including where the one ormore agents to adjust pH comprise hydrochloric acid and sodiumhydroxide.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide methods for thetreatment of FSD which employ bremelanotide while limiting adverseevents, including but not limited to increases in systolic bloodpressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate or incidence of nausea orvomiting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide methods for thetreatment of FSD which employ bremelanotide while reducing the incidenceof adverse events, including but not limited to increases in systolicblood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate or incidence ofnausea or vomiting, compared with alternative prior art doses andmethods of administering bremelanotide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide methods for thetreatment of FSD which employ bremelanotide while minimizing adverseevents, including but not limited to increases in systolic bloodpressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate or incidence of nausea orvomiting, compared with alternative prior art doses and methods ofadministering bremelanotide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dose ofbremelanotide, such as a dose delivered by subcutaneous injection, whichis efficacious in treating FSD but which does not induce, or which doesnot significantly induce, drug-associated adverse events, including butnot limited to increases in systolic blood pressure, diastolic bloodpressure, heart rate or incidence of nausea or vomiting.

Other aspects and novel features, and further scope of applicability ofthe present invention will be set forth in part in the detaileddescription to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the artupon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of theinvention. The aspects of the invention may be realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a partof the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the presentinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose ofillustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and arenot to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plot showing resulting peak plasma concentrations ofbremelanotide, measured in ng/mL, following intranasal administration of5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 15 mg of bremelanotide in an aqueous solution, andsubcutaneous administration 2.5 mg of bremelanotide in an aqueoussolution.

FIG. 2 is plot showing mean plasma concentrations (in ng/mL) ofbremelanotide (Y axis) over time (X axis, in hours) followingsubcutaneous administration of 0.3 (∘), 1.0 (□), 3.0 (⋄), 5.0 (triangle,apex up), 7.5 (inverted triangle, apex down) and 10 (●) mg ofbremelanotide in an aqueous solution in healthy adult males.

FIG. 3 is a plot showing mean plasma concentrations (in ng/mL) ofbremelanotide over time following subcutaneous administration of 0.75,1.25 and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide in an aqueous solution inpremenopausal women diagnosed with FSD.

FIG. 4A is a graph of mean change in satisfying sexual events (SSEs)from double-blind baseline to end-of-study among at-home users ofdouble-blind study drug in the Study of Example 1. The mean absolutenumber of SSEs for the screening month (no-treatment month) and thebaseline month (placebo month) ranged from 0.7 to 0.8 and 1.5 to 1.9,respectively. P<0.05 for the 1.75 mg dose, as determined by Van Elterentest.

FIG. 4B is a graph of mean change in Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)total score from double-blind baseline to end-of-study among at-homeusers of double-blind study drug in the Study of Example 1. The meanabsolute FSFI Score for the screening month (no-treatment month) and thebaseline month (placebo month) ranged from 17.09 to 18.22 and 21.52 to22.75, respectively. The total possible score is from 2 to 36. Higherscores indicate a greater level of sexual function. P for the 1.25 mgdose was <0.05 and for the 1.75 mg dose was <0.01, as determined by VanElteren test.

FIG. 4C is a graph of mean decrease in Female Sexual DistressScale-Desire/Arousal/Orgasm (FSDS-DAO) total score from double-blindbaseline to end-of-study among at-home users of double-blind study drugin the study of Example 1. The mean absolute FSDS-DAO Score for thescreening month (no-treatment month) and the baseline month (placebomonth) ranged from 38.9 to 41.7 and 30.5 to 33.2, respectively. Totalscore can range from 0 to 60. The higher the score the greater thedistress associated with sexual dysfunction. P<0.001 for the 1.75 mgdose, as determined by Van Elteren test.

FIG. 5A is a graph of mean change in the desire sub-domain of the FSFIfrom double-blind baseline to end-of-study among at-home users ofdouble-blind study drug in the study of Example 1. **P<0.01 asdetermined by ANCOVA, ANOVA, or Van Elteren test.

FIG. 5B is a graph of mean change in the arousal sub-domain of the FSFIfrom double-blind baseline to end-of-study among at-home users ofdouble-blind study drug in the study of Example 1. **P<0.01 asdetermined by ANCOVA, ANOVA, or Van Elteren test.

FIG. 5C is a graph of mean change in the desire sub-domain of theFSDS-DAO (Item 13) from double-blind baseline to end-of-study amongat-home users of double-blind study drug in the study of Example 1.**P<0.01 as determined by ANCOVA, ANOVA, or Van Elteren test.

FIG. 5D is a graph of mean change in the arousal sub-domain of theFSDS-DAO (Item 14) from double-blind baseline to end-of-study amongat-home users of double-blind study drug in the study of Example 1.*P<0.05 as determined by ANCOVA, ANOVA, or Van Elteren test.

FIG. 6A is a graph of mean change in FSFI total score from double-blindbaseline to end-of-study among at-home users of double-blind study drugdiagnosed with mixed HSDD/FSAD in the study of Example 1. *P<0.05 asdetermined by Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

FIG. 6B is a graph of mean change in FSFI total score from double-blindbaseline to end-of-study among at-home users of double-blind study drugdiagnosed with HSDD only in the study of Example 1. **P<0.01 asdetermined by Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

FIG. 7A is a plot of mean change of FSFI total score from baseline overtime for a three month period with subcutaneous administration ofplacebo (♦) or 0.75 (▪), 1.25 (▴) or 1.75 (●) mg of bremelanotide in thestudy of Example 1.

FIG. 7B is a plot of mean change of FSDS-DAO total score change frombaseline over time for a three month period with subcutaneousadministration of placebo (♦) or 0.75 (▪), 1.25 (▴) or 1.75 (●) mg ofbremelanotide in the study of Example 1.

FIG. 8 is a plot of Cmax (ng/mL) against AUC for zero to two hours(hours times ng/mL), utilizing combined data from visits 5 and 7 of thetrial study of Example 1, illustrating that a linear relationship existsbetween these parameters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

Before proceeding with the description of the invention, certain termsare defined as set forth herein.

The “amino acid” and “amino acids” used in this invention, and the termsas used in the specification and claims, include the known naturallyoccurring protein amino acids, which are referred to by both theircommon three letter abbreviation and single letter abbreviation. Seegenerally Synthetic Peptides: A Users Guide, G. A. Grant, editor, W.H.Freeman & Co., New York, 1992, the teachings of which are incorporatedherein by reference, including the text and table set forth at pages 11through 24. As set forth above, the term “amino acid” also includesstereoisomers and modifications of naturally occurring protein aminoacids, non-protein amino acids, post-translationally modified aminoacids, enzymatically synthesized amino acids, derivatized amino acids,constructs or structures designed to mimic amino acids, and the like.Modified and unusual amino acids are described generally in SyntheticPeptides: A User's Guide cited above; V. J. Hruby, F. Al-Obeidi and W.Kazmierski: Biochem. J. 268:249-262, 1990; and C. Toniolo: Int. J.Peptide Protein Res. 35:287-300, 1990; the teachings of all of which areincorporated herein by reference.

In the listing of compounds according to the present invention, theamino acid residues have their conventional meaning as given in Chapter2400 of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, 8^(th) Ed. Thus, “Nle”is norleucine; “Asp” is aspartic acid; “His” is histidine; “D-Phe” isD-phenylalanine; “Arg” is arginine; “Trp” is tryptophan; and “Lys” islysine; “Ac” refers to a peptide or amino acid sequence that isacetylated [(CH₃)—CO—].

The term “composition”, as in pharmaceutical composition, is intended toencompass a product comprising the active ingredient(s), and the inertingredient(s) that make up the carrier, as well as any product whichresults, directly or indirectly, from combination, complexation oraggregation of any two or more of the ingredients, or from dissociationof one or more of the ingredients, or from other types of reactions orinteractions of one or more of the ingredients. Accordingly, thepharmaceutical compositions utilized in the present invention encompassany composition made by admixing an active ingredient and one or morepharmaceutically acceptable carriers.

“Sexual dysfunction” means any condition that inhibits or impairs normalsexual function, including coitus. The term is not limited tophysiological conditions, and includes psychogenic conditions orperceived impairment without a formal diagnosis of pathology ordisorder. Sexual dysfunction includes ED in a male mammal and FSD in afemale mammal. “Erectile dysfunction” (ED) is a disorder involving thefailure of a male mammal to achieve functional erection, ejaculation, orboth. Erectile dysfunction is accordingly synonymous with impotence, andincludes the inability to attain or sustain an erection of sufficientrigidity for coitus.

“Female sexual dysfunction” (FSD) is recognized in DSM-IV as four majordisorders that define FSD: decreased sexual desire, decreased sexualarousal, dyspareunia, and difficulty in achieving orgasm. For purposesof diagnosis and therapy, FSD may be further defined to include femalesexual arousal disorder (FSAD) and hypoactive sexual desire disorder(HSDD). The Draft Guidance for Industry, Female Sexual Dysfunction:Clinical Development of Drug Products for Treatment, U.S. Food and DrugAdministration, May 2000, lists four recognized components of FSD:decreased sexual desire; decreased sexual arousal; dyspareunia; andpersistent difficulty in achieving or inability to achieve orgasm, withthe components associated with personal distress, as determined by theaffected woman. Sexual dysfunction in females can also include inhibitedorgasm and dyspareunia, which is painful or difficult coitus. Femalesexual dysfunction includes, but is not limited to, a number ofcategories of diseases, conditions and disorders including HSDD, sexualanhedonia, sexual arousal disorder, dyspareunia and vaginismus.Hypoactive sexual desire disorder includes a disorder in which sexualfantasies and desire for sexual activity are persistently or recurrentlydiminished or absent, causing marked distress or interpersonaldifficulties. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder can be related toboredom or unhappiness in a long-standing relationship, depression,dependence on alcohol or psychoactive drugs, side effects fromprescription drugs, or hormonal deficiencies. Sexual anhedonia includesdecreased or absent pleasure in sexual activity. Sexual anhedonia can becaused by depression, drugs, or interpersonal factors. Sexual arousaldisorder can be caused by reduced estrogen, illness, or treatment withdiuretics, antihistamines, antidepressants, or antihypertensive agents.Dyspareunia and vaginismus are sexual pain disorders characterized bypain resulting from penetration and may be caused, for example, bymedications which reduce lubrication, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatorydisease, inflammatory bowel disease or urinary tract problems.

By a melanocortin receptor “agonist” is meant an endogenous or drugsubstance or compound, including a compound such as bremelanotide, whichcan interact with a melanocortin receptor and initiate a pharmacologicalresponse, including but not limited to adenyl cyclase expression,characteristic of the melanocortin receptor.

By the abbreviation “% CV” is meant the coefficient of variation, whichis the ratio of the standard deviation (SD) to the mean expressed as apercentage.

In the specification and claims, where there is a reference to a weightof bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotideper dose (such as, e.g., administering a dose of 1.75 mg bremelanotideor a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide), it is to beunderstood that such weight is net peptide weight, that is, net of thesalt in the instance of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

Clinical Applications

The methods and pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein can be usedfor both medical applications and animal husbandry or veterinaryapplications. Typically, the methods are used in humans, includingspecifically female humans, but may also be used in other mammals. Theterm “patient” is intended to denote a mammalian individual, and is soused throughout the specification and in the claims. The primaryapplications of this invention involve human female patients, but thisinvention may be applied to laboratory, farm, zoo, wildlife, pet, sportor other animals.

Compounds of the Invention

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the melanocortinreceptor agonist is:

-   -   Ac-Nle-cyclo(-Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys)-OH (bremelanotide)

The peptide of bremelanotide has a formula of C₅₀H₆₈N₁₄O₁₀, and a netmolecular weight of 1025.18. This peptide may be synthesized byconventional means, including either solid-phase or liquid-phasetechniques, and purified to greater than 99% purity by HPLC, yielding awhite powder that is a clear, colorless solution in water. The structureof bremelanotide is:

In one embodiment of the invention, bremelanotide is synthesized bysolid-phase synthesis and purified according to methods known in theart. Any of a number of well-known procedures utilizing a variety ofresins and reagents may be used to prepare bremelanotide.

Bremelanotide may be in the form of any pharmaceutically acceptablesalt. Acid addition salts of the compounds of this invention areprepared in a suitable solvent from the peptide and an excess of anacid, such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, phosphoric, acetic,trifluoroacetic, maleic, citric, tartaric, oxalic, succinic ormethanesulfonic acid. The acetate salt form is especially useful.

In a preferred embodiment, bremelanotide is an acetate salt form, and isformulated in a buffered aqueous solution including glycerin, andprepackaged in a syringe and auto-injector device. In alternativeembodiments, bremelanotide is any pharmaceutically acceptable salt form,and is formulated in any pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous solution,the aqueous solution optionally including one or more salts, such assodium chloride, one or more acids, such as citric acid, and one or moreadditional ingredients, including cellulose or derivatives thereof,saccharides or polysaccharides such as dextrose, and any of a widevariety of surfactants, chelating agents and preservatives.

This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,968 (application Ser.No. 09/606,501), U.S. Pat. No. 6,794,489 (application Ser. No.10/040,547), U.S. Pat. No. 7,176,279 (application Ser. No. 10/638,071),U.S. Pat. No. 7,235,625 (application Ser. No. 11/139,730), U.S. Pat. No.7,417,027 (application Ser. No. 10/756,212), U.S. Pat. No. 7,473,760(application Ser. No. 11/267,271), U.S. Pat. No. 7,897,721 (applicationSer. No. 12/348,489), and International Application No. PCT/US13/068386,published as International Publication No. WO 2014/071339, and theteachings, including the specification, claims and prosecution history,of each of the foregoing are incorporated here by reference as if setforth in full.

Uses of Bremelanotide. Over 2500 subjects have received bremelanotide ina total of 30 clinical trials, with bremelanotide administered viaintravenous, intranasal and subcutaneous routes. The majority of studiesconducted were of men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. Bremelanotideadministered intranasally demonstrated promising clinical activity inpre- and postmenopausal women with FSAD. However, with intranasaladministration significant variability was seen in bremelanotide C_(max)and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) compared tosubcutaneous administration, as is shown generally in FIG. 1 (dataderived from men administered intranasal or subcutaneous bremelanotide).

In pharmacokinetic studies of subcutaneous administration ofbremelanotide in a healthy adult male population, quantifiableconcentrations of bremelanotide were observed in plasma within 15minutes after subcutaneous administration, with median T_(max) occurringat 0.50 to 1.0 hours after administration. See FIG. 2. Results ofT_(max) values were compared between subcutaneous administration (SC)and intranasal (IN) administration of various doses of bremelanotide, asshown in FIG. 1. There was material and significant variability in peakplasma bremelanotide with intranasal administration, while subcutaneousinjection of a dose of 2.5 mg resulted in substantially tighter peakplasma bremelanotide concentrations, with little or no excursion outsideof predefined parameters.

Intranasal bremelanotide was shown to increase sexual desire and arousalcompared to placebo in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women withFSAD in two Phase 2 trials. However, use of intranasal bremelanotide wasassociated with increased adverse events compared to placebo in bothpremenopausal and postmenopausal women, with 92.5% of premenopausalsubjects receiving bremelanotide reporting at least one adverse event,compared to 61.1% for placebo, and 100% of postmenopausal subjectsreceiving bremelanotide reported at least one adverse event, compared to47.7% for placebo. In the bremelanotide premenopausal arm, 42.5% of thesubjects were discontinued due to hypertension, nausea, vomiting ormyalgia. Subjects received a 10 mg intranasal dose of bremelanotide,with premenopausal subjects determined to have a mean plasmaconcentration of 88.5±51.9 ng/mL and a % CV of 58.6, and postmenopausalsubjects determined to have a mean plasma concentration of 93.2±68.5ng/mL and a % CV of 73.5. The minimum and maximum plasma concentrationlevels for all women at thirty minutes post dose range from 0.0 ng/mL to207.0 ng/mL. Subjects who experienced vomiting and/or nausea followingin-clinic dosing had a substantially higher pharmacokineticconcentration of bremelanotide than subjects who did not experiencethese symptoms. Furthermore, stratification of subject arousal rate andlevel of desire success rate by pharmacokinetic concentration groupshowed a larger change in subject arousal rate and level of desiresuccess rate from baseline to selected visits in subjects with abremelanotide concentration between 50 to <100 ng/mL than subjects witha lower or higher bremelanotide concentration.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, single dose, dose escalationPhase 1 study to determine the maximum tolerated dose in healthy adultfemale subjects, doses of from 0.3 to 5.0 mg (0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mg)of bremelanotide were administered by subcutaneous injection. However,this study specifically excluded women with a diagnosis of FSD, and thuscould not determine an effective dose for treatment of FSD. The studydid employ a measure of pharmacodynamic effect, defined as an increaseof sexual arousal response in the presence of visual sexual stimulationas measured by vaginal blood flow with vaginal photoplethysmography(using a Geer gauge device), which measures vaginal pulse amplitude.However, by this measure a statistically significant pharmacodynamiceffect was seen only in subjects receiving 3 and 5 mg of bremelanotide,with no apparent pharmacodynamic effect compared to placebo or baselineseen at 0.3 or 1.0 mg doses of bremelanotide.

Prior to the study disclosed hereafter as Example 1, no studiesexamining efficacy for FSD using subcutaneous administration had beenconducted. In Phase 1 studies using normal female volunteers asdiscussed above, a pharmacodynamics effect was seen only at subcutaneousdoses of 3 mg or greater of bremelanotide.

While not intending to be bound by any particular theory, it is believedthat bremelanotide may treat FSD primarily via a central nervous systemmechanism of action, with minimal innervation or action in the genitalarea. This mechanism of action differs from the mechanism of action intreatment of male sexual dysfunction, in which efficacy is stronglycorrelated to innervation or action in the genital area, andspecifically inducing an erection.

In one aspect of invention, the variability in peak plasma concentrationwithin 60 minutes after subcutaneous injection administration is a % CVless than about 30, or alternatively less than about 25, oralternatively less than about 20. The variability in peak plasmaconcentration within 60 minutes after intranasal administration is a %CV greater than about 25, or alternatively greater than about 30, oralternatively greater than about 40, or alternatively greater than about50, or alternatively greater than about 60, or alternatively greaterthan about 70.

Adverse Events with Subcutaneous Administration. Subcutaneous dosing wastested in 5 Phase 1 trials (3 in females, 2 in males) and one Phase 2trial (males). The most common adverse events associated withsingle-dose SC bremelanotide administration (Trials-14, -06, and -10)were somnolence (30%), flushing (15%), nausea (19%), and vomiting (10%).

In a trial in males, 1 of 6 subjects at the 5-mg dose level, 1 of 6subjects at the 7.5 mg dose level, and 3 of 6 subjects at the 10-mg doselevel experienced vomiting that was mild or moderate in intensity anddelayed 6 to 15 hours. Vomiting could be resolved with administration ofintramuscular ondansetron (a 5-hydroxytryptamine3 antagonist). Singlesubcutaneous bremelanotide doses of 4 and 6 mg showed improvedtolerability by male subjects with ED and preexisting hypertension.

In a study with obese women, the dosing regimen included subcutaneousinjections of either bremelanotide or placebo 3 times daily for 15 daysfor a total of 45 planned doses. On Day 1, the first dose was 1.25 mgwith subsequent doses of 1.0 mg. On Days 2 through 15, the first dailydose was 2.5 mg with second and third daily doses of 2.0 mg. No measureof sexual response was made in this study. Three subjects were withdrawnfrom the trial prematurely due to adverse events of vomiting (placebogroup), hypertension (noted prior to daily dosing, bremelanotide group),and nausea (bremelanotide group), respectively, all of which wereassessed as mild in intensity and probably (vomiting and hypertension)or possibly (nausea) related to trial drug. All 3 events resolved bytrial conclusion. All subjects who participated in the trial experiencedat least 1 treatment-emergent adverse event and all subjects experiencedat least 1 treatment-related adverse event.

Determining Efficacy. In clinical trials to determine the efficacy ofdrugs and therapies for treatment of FSD, any of a number of validatedpatient-reported outcome questionnaires are utilized. These include:

FSEP-R Female Sexual Encounter Profile - Revised FSDS-DAO Female SexualDistress Scale - Desire/Arousal/Orgasm FSFI Female Sexual Function IndexGAQ General Assessment Questions SIDI-F Sexual Interest and DesireInventory - Female WITS-9 Women's Inventory of Treatment SatisfactionElectronic diary devices can be employed for use by subjects to completequestionnaires, including but not limited to the FSEP-R questionnaire,which can be completed outside of the clinic (at home) following asexual encounter.

Use of Prefilled Syringes and Auto-Injector Devices. In one aspect, aprefilled syringe may be utilized, optionally with an auto-injectordevice, permitting a patient to rapidly and simply self-administer asubcutaneous dose of bremelanotide. Bremelanotide injection, aparenteral drug product for subcutaneous injection, is formulated in anaqueous system containing 2.5% w/v glycerin at pH 5. It is packaged insingle-use Type I glass 1 mL prefilled syringes with staked one-halfinch 29 gauge needles fitted with a needle shield and closed with grayFlurotec plunger stoppers. The primary container is secondarily fittedwith a plunger rod for actuation and a safety device to preventaccidental access to the needle after use. Each unit is filled todeliver a minimum volume of 0.3 mL.

The following is a list of all components used in the manufacture of thedrug product:

-   -   Bremelanotide API    -   Glycerin, USP vegetable grade    -   Hydrochloric Acid, NF (if needed) for pH adjustment    -   Sodium Hydroxide, NF (if needed) for pH adjustment    -   Water for Injection, USP or Sterile Water for Injection, USP

Quantitative Composition of Bremelanotide Injection Drug ProductBremelanotide Injection (Quantity in each syringe) Component and 0.75mg/0.3 mL 1.25 mg/0.3 mL 1.75 mg/0.3 mL Function (2.50 mg/mL) (4.17mg/mL) (5.83 mg/mL) Bremelanotide API* 0.75 mg 1.25 mg 1.75 mg Glycerin,USP, vegetable 7.5 mg 7.5 mg 7.5 mg grade [tonicity agent] HydrochloricAcid, NF To adjust pH To adjust pH To adjust pH [to adjust pH] SodiumHydroxide, NF To adjust pH To adjust pH To adjust pH [to adjust pH]Water For Injection, USP QS to 0.3 mL QS to 0.3 mL QS to 0.3 mL [diluentand solubilizing agent] *Net bremelanotide (anhydrous, free baseequivalent)

The bremelanotide drug product for subcutaneous injection is packaged insingle-use pre-filled syringes with Flurotec plunger stoppers, a plungerrod for actuation, and a plastic safety device. The package componentsare further described below:

-   Syringe: BD Hypak SCF 1 mL Long Syringe Barrel with 29G×½″ 5 Bevel    needle, Formulation BD260 (Primary container closure, Sterile, Clean    and Ready-to-fill) (BD, Franklin Lakes, N.J., US)-   Stopper: BD Hypak NSCF 1 mL Long Plunger Stopper, Formulation W4023    Flurotec Daikyo Coated (Primary container closure, Sterile, Clean    and Ready-to-fill) (BD, Franklin Lakes, N.J., US)-   Plunger rod: BD Hypak 1 mL Long Plunger Rod Polypropylene (Lies    outside primary container closure, non-sterile). (BD, Franklin    Lakes, N.J., US)-   Auto-Injector: YpsoMate, automatic injection device for pre-filled    syringe manufactured by Ypsomed (Burgdorf, Switzerland)

Example 1

A multi-centered, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel group trialwith fixed dose levels and designed to identify appropriate doses ofbremelanotide administered by subcutaneous injection in premenopausalfemales with FSAD and/or HSDD, under the conditions of home use, wasconducted. Subjects received a single dose of placebo (subject-blinded)in-clinic followed by 4 weeks of subject-blinded placebo treatment athome (subjects self-administered treatment as needed). Subjects whocontinued to qualify for the trial then received 2 single in-clinicdoses of randomized treatment (double-blind; approximately one weekapart), followed by 12 weeks of double-blind treatment at home (subjectsself-administered treatment as needed). Baseline characteristic of thesubjects is shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Subject Baseline Characteristics Bremelanotide groups Placebogroup 0.75 mg 1.25 mg 1.75 mg Characteristic (N = 97) (N = 100) (N = 99)(N = 98) Age (years), 37.0 (7.7) 37.6 (7.8) 35.7 (7.2) 37.0 (7.6) mean(SD) Race, n (%) White 75 (77%) 71 (71%) 65 (66%) 70 (71%) Black 19(20%) 25 (25%) 32 (32%) 23 (23%) Other 3 (3%) 4 (4%) 2 (2%) 5 (5%)Weight at screening 164.4 (42.1) 168.2 (37.9) 174.0 (43.2) 179.2(45.9)^(a) (lbs), mean (SD) Diagnosis, n (%) FSAD 4 (4%) 3 (3%) 3 (3%) 2(2%) HSDD 24 (25%) 20 (20%) 24 (24%) 24 (24%) Mixed 69 (71%) 77 (77%) 72(73%) 72 (72%) Menses frequency 72 (74%) 75 (75%) 86 (87%) 79 (81%)regular, n (%) Used oral contraception 12 (12%) 15 (15%) 11 (11%) 15(15%) within the 30 days before Visit 1, n (%) ^(a)N = 97. FSAD, femalesexual arousal disorder; HSDD, hypoactive sexual desire disorder; SD,standard deviation.

Subjects were randomized (1:1:1:1) to one of four study treatment groups(placebo or doses with 0.75, 1.25, or 1.75 mg net weight bremelanotide).Randomization occurred immediately prior to the first in-clinic dose ofdouble-blind treatment. Study drug and placebo was provided aspre-filled syringes in 0.3 mL volume, with subjects instructed onself-administration into the anterior thigh or abdomen.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was conducted following bothplacebo and randomized treatment group in-clinic administrations. Threeperiods of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were included, the firstperiod was from before to 24 hours after a single, in-clinic dose ofplacebo (to establish a baseline); the second and third periods occurredfrom before to 24 hours after each of 2 single, in-clinic doses ofdouble-blind treatment, administered within 14 days of each other. Bloodsamples for pharmacokinetic analysis were collected before and at 0.5,1.0, and 2.0 hours after each in-clinic bremelanotide single-dosetreatment (double-blind only), to permit analysis ofconcentration-response relationships.

Enrolled subjects were premenopausal women who met the diagnosticcriteria for FSAD, HSDD, or mixed FSAD/HSDD, utilizing a diagnosticscreening guide including categorization of the sexual dysfunction asboth acquired (vs. lifelong) and generalized (vs. situational). Subjectsenrolled had previously been sexually “functional;” that is, experiencedsexual arousal during sexual activity and/or a normal level of desire atsome point in the past for a period of at least 2 years. Table 2 belowshows the FSD measures at double-blind baseline, which defines amodified intent to treat (modified ITT) population.

TABLE 2 Subjects' FSD Measures at Double-Blind Baseline. Bremelanotidegroups FSD Placebo group 0.75 mg 1.25 mg 1.75 mg parameter (N = 91) (N =87^(a)) (N = 75) (N = 74^(b)) SSEs during the 28 days beforerandomization Mean (SD) 1.7 (1.9) 1.9 (2.1) 1.5 (1.6) 1.8 (2.6) Median[range] 1.0 [0-9] 1.0 [0-10] 1.0 [0-8] 1.0 [0-16] FSFI total score 21.94(5.94) 22.75 (5.43) 21.52 (5.42) 21.65 (4.98) Mean (SD) FSDS-DAO total32.1 (12.8) 30.5 (12.4) 32.7 (13.8) 33.3 (12.7) score Mean (SD) ^(a)ForSSEs, N = 85. ^(b)For SSEs, N = 73.

Enrolled subjects were provided with an electronic diary system (eDiary)with instructions to complete an FSEP-R questionnaire with each sexualencounter. At selected in-clinic visits, subjects completed otherassessment questionnaires, including SIDI-F, FSDS-DAO, FSFI, GAQ andWITS-9. In addition, various vital sign measures were conducted andblood and urine samples collected at selected in-clinic visits.

The primary endpoint data analysis of 327 pre-menopausal women with FSDshowed a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement(p=0.018) in the frequency of Satisfying Sexual Events (SSEs) in womentaking bremelanotide doses (mean change from 1.6 at baseline increasingto 2.4; pooled 1.25 mg and 1.75 mg doses) versus placebo (mean changefrom 1.7 at baseline increasing to 1.9) over the study period, resultingin a 50% increase in SSEs with bremelanotide versus 12% with placebo.The study met its primary endpoint by demonstrating a clinicallymeaningful and statistically significant improvement in the change frombaseline to end of study in the number of SSEs. The measurement periodwas defined as the number of events during the last four weeks oftreatment minus the number of events during the baseline period, withoutcomes reported for pooled results of women taking the two highestbremelanotide dose levels versus placebo. The following shows p valuesfor changes in SSEs for three bremelanotide doses and pooled 1.25 and1.75 mg bremelanotide over the measurement period:

-   -   Bremelanotide (1.25 and 1.75 mg pooled vs. placebo) p=0.0180    -   Bremelanotide (1.75 mg vs. placebo) p=0.0215    -   Bremelanotide (1.25 mg vs. placebo) p=0.0807    -   Bremelanotide (0.75 mg vs. placebo) p=0.4430

Preliminary analysis of key secondary endpoints showed clinicallymeaningful and statistically significant improvement in patients whoreceived bremelanotide vs. placebo (mean change from baseline to end ofstudy; pooled 1.25 mg and 1.75 mg bremelanotide doses):

-   -   Improved overall sexual functioning, as measured by the Female        Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The FSFI is a 19-item        questionnaire which provides for an additional measurement of        changes over a longer recall period.        -   FSFI total score improvement (mean change of 3.55 vs. 1.88,            p=0.0017)    -   Reduced associated distress related to sexual dysfunction, as        measured by the Female Sexual Distress Scale-DAO (FSDS-DAO). The        FSDS-DAO 15-item questionnaire is designed to assess and        quantify the change in personal distress associated with FSD.        -   FSDS-DAO total score improvement (mean change of −11.1 vs.            −6.8, p=0.036).

The FSDS Total Score and FSFI Total Score were each significantlycorrelated to dose (p=0.00277 and 0.00767, respectively); thecorrelation between the number of SSEs and actual dose was notsignificant. The relationship between key efficacy endpoints andweight-normalized dose (mg/kg) shows that the FSDS-DAO Total Score wasstatistically significantly correlated by weight-normalized dose. TheFSFI Total Score trended toward a statistically significant correlation.Only the FSDS-DAO Total Score was significantly correlated with Cmax.Both FSDS-DAO Total Score and FSFI Total Score were significantlycorrelated with AUC(0-2 h) (p≤0.0485). Thus the correlation of FSDS-DAOTotal Score with Cmax was statistically significant, as were thecorrelations for FSDS-DAO Total Score and FSFI Total Score with AUC(0-2h). Accordingly, the 1.75 mg dose was the most optimal dose forefficacy.

Mean pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by bremelanotide doseand visit, including Cmax determinations (the highest ng/mLconcentration at either 0.5 or 1 hour post administration) and AUCdeterminations at two hours and, for a subset of subjects in each group,at four hours. The results are shown in Table 3 below:

TABLE 3 Mean Pharmacokinetic Parameters by Bremelanotide Dose and VisitBremelanotide Visit 5 Visit 7 Dose Cmax AUC(0-2 h) AUC(0-4 h) CmaxAUC(0-2 h) AUC(0-4 h) (mg) Statistic (ng/mL) (h · ng/mL) (h · ng/mL)(ng/mL) (h · ng/mL) (h · ng/mL) 0.75 N 95 95 31 86 86 27 Mean 37 53 8438 53 80 Median 36 52 80 37 52 79 % CV 27 24 23 27 24 20 Min 17 25 50 2026 51 Max 60 85 126 78 92 120 1.25 N 96 96 31 81 81 26 Mean 60 86 138 6084 142 Median 56 81 136 60 84 144 % CV 31 25 20 33 25 25 Min 29 42 86 1824 39 Max 126 148 187 150 144 199 1.75 N 92 92 31 86 86 27 Mean 77 112178 78 112 184 Median 78 112 179 77 111 180 % CV 25 23 29 25 25 25 Min15 17 25 27 28 72 Max 115 171 289 127 176 276 % CV, coefficient ofvariation; AUC, area under the curve; Cmax, maximum observedconcentration; AUC(0-4 h) was computed for fewer subjects than AUC(0-2h) because of elimination of the 4-hour blood sample by protocolamendment during the study.

The Cmax for the mean curve was calculated by averaging theconcentrations at each time point (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 hours), and this isshown in FIG. 3.

There was a high correlation between the Cmax and AUC, and a linearrelationship exists between these parameters, as shown on FIG. 8.Therefore, either parameter can be used when assessing PK correlationsto dose, efficacy, or safety.

Mean changes in blood pressure were characterized in all subjects basedon sequential supervised dosing of single-blind subcutaneous placebo andtwo doses of randomized study drug. The primary analysis for meanchanges was the difference between treatment groups in the change fromsingle-blind placebo to randomized drug (Visit 2 vs. Visits 5/7). Thesechanges are summarized in Table 4. There were between 86 to 100 subjectsin each dose group.

TABLE 4 Treatment Group Difference (from Placebo) in Mean Change inBlood Pressure from Corresponding Period during Single-blind Placebo BMTDose Interval SBP DBP Pulse HR-BP Product (mg) (h) V5 V7 V5 V7 V5 V7 V5V7 0.75 0-4  1.8 1.1 1.5 0.6 −5.2* −4.8* −492.8* −491.9* 4-8  0.9 1.61.3 1.7 −6.2* −5.5* −676.5* −503.3* 8-24 0.9 1.6 1.0 1.3* −0.4 0.1 5.2114.9 0-24 1.1 1.5 1.1* 1.3* −2.2* −1.6 −187.7 −82.3 1.25 0-4  2.4* 2.1*3.0* 2.2* −5.2* −6.1* −436.4* −583.3* 4-8  1.4 1.3* 2.2* 0.9 −6.1* −6.5*−621.0* −669.7* 8-24 0.7 1.5* 1.4* 1.7* −1.5 −0.7 −127.4 4.2 0-24 1.11.6* 1.9* 1.7* −2.9* −2.6* −265.9 −206.5 1.75 0-4  3.1* 2.5* 3.2* 2.6*−4.6* −4.7* −305.9 −375.4* 4-8  2.1 2.2 2.3* 2.2* −6.6* −6.6* −608.1*−624.5* 8-24 0.9 0.6 1.4* 1.4 −0.8 −0.5 −23.7 −31.3 0-24 1.6 1.3 1.9*1.8* −2.2* −2.2* −139.1 −184.1 Abbreviations: BMT, bremelanotide; DBP,diastolic blood pressure; HR-BP, heart rate-blood pressure; SBP,systolic blood pressure; V, visit. Asterisks denote P ≤ 0.05.

Efficacy outcomes are graphed by dosage and FSD diagnosis in FIG. 6. Onall key endpoints, exploratory analyses demonstrated statisticallysignificant efficacy or a clinically significant trend versus placebo inthe HSDD-only and mixed HSDD/FSAD subgroups at 1.25 mg, 1.75 mg, and/or1.25/1.75 mg pooled.

The data also showed that the mean change from baseline scores with theFSFI and FSDS-DAO were still increasing in the third treatment month, asshown in FIG. 7. In addition, an exploratory analysis showed a higherpercentage of women who were administered bremelanotide (versus placebo)had end-of-study scores for the FSFI and FSDS-DAO total score levelsabove 26.5 and 18.

The most common adverse events during study-drug treatment (occurringin >5% in any group) were nausea, flushing, and headache. Drug treatedsubjects had ˜2 mm Hg change in blood pressure, predominantly within 4hours of dosing; patients meeting the predefined blood pressurewithdrawal criteria were evenly distributed among placebo and activearms of the study. Of 7 serious adverse events, none were consideredrelated to bremelanotide treatment.

Bremelanotide administration resulted in a small increase in bothsystolic and diastolic pressures, with a maximal change in systolicpressure of 3.15 mm Hg (average of Visits 5 and 7) in the 1.75 mg dosinggroup. The 0 to 4 hour changes were statistically different than placebo(95% CI not intersecting 0) for the 2 high dose groups only.Importantly, the increase in systolic blood pressure was confined to thefirst 4 hours following bremelanotide administration. In all cases, the4-to-8-hour interval and later intervals were not statisticallydifferent from placebo.

The small changes in systolic and diastolic pressures were accompaniedby decrease in heart rate of between 3 to 6 beats per minute. Thesechanges were statistically separable and occurred between 0 and 8 hoursafter bremelanotide administration. While it is not known whether thesechanges represent a baroreceptor reflex to the increase in bloodpressure, a central process, or some combination of processes, availabledata suggests that the reduction in pulse and pulse-blood pressureproduct may be physiologically adaptive and reduce any potential cardiacrisk of the small concurrent increase in systolic blood pressure.

Although there were an increased number of outliers for maximal changesfrom baseline in systolic blood pressure in drug-treated patients, theduration of these events was quite limited. The interrogation intervalduring ambulatory blood pressure monitoring assessments of 15 minutesallowed definition of the maximal duration of such excursions. As can beseen from Table 5 below, few changes of greater than 10 mm Hg systoliclasted greater than 30 minutes, while no increases of 15 mm Hg systolicor greater lasted longer than 30 minutes. These data included are notselected with regard to concomitant activity, concomitant medications orother potential clinical contributory factors. The clinical significanceof such changes, if any, is small.

TABLE 5 Systolic Blood Pressure Shifts by Duration Treatment ΔSBP > 10mm Hg, ΔSBP > 15 mm Hg, Arm Duration > 30 minutes Duration > 30 minutesPlacebo 1 1 BMT 0.75 mg 1 0 BMT 1.25 mg 2 0 BMT 1.75 mg 0 0Abbreviations: Δ, change; BMT, bremelanotide; SBP, systolic bloodpressure.

Bremelanotide was well-tolerated during the trial. The most common typesof treatment-emergent adverse events reported more frequently in thebremelanotide arms were facial flushing, nausea, emesis and headache.The study dosed 395 patients. A total of 26 patients discontinued fromthe study based on preset blood pressure change criterion spread acrossall arms (N=26, Placebo: 6, bremelanotide arms—0.75 mg: 4, 1.25 mg: 9,1.75 mg: 7). A total of 19 patients discontinued from the study based onadverse events spread across all arms (N=19, Placebo: 5, bremelanotidearms—0.75 mg: 2, 1.25 mg: 4, 1.75 mg: 8). The adverse events that mostcommonly lead to discontinuation (other than meeting the blood pressurecriterion) were flushing, nausea and emesis. Based on a safety review byan independent Data Safety Monitoring Board, no significant safetyissues or concerns were identified during the study. There were noserious adverse events reported attributable to bremelanotide. Adverseevents during the double-blind treatment period are shown on Table 6below.

TABLE 6 Adverse Events During Double-Blind Treatment. Bremelanotidegroups Adverse Placebo group 0.75 mg 1.25 mg 1.75 mg event (N = 97) (N =100) (N = 99) (N = 98) Any^(a) 49 (51%) 64 (64%) 61 (62%) 67 (68%)Nausea 3 (3%) 18 (18%) 22 (22%) 24 (24%) Flushing 0 17 (17%) 14 (14%) 17(17%) Headache 3 (3%) 9 (9%) 9 (9%) 14 (14%) Injection-site pain 3 (3%)6 (6%) 6 (6%) 7 (7%) Upper respiratory 4 (4%) 8 (8%) 5 (5%) 4 (4%) tractinfection Injection-site 0 4 (4%) 4 (4%) 6 (6%) pruritus Any leading to5 (5%) 2 (2%) 4 (4%) 8 (8%) withdrawal^(b) Vomiting 0 0 1 (1%) 3 (3%)Hypertension 2 (2%) 2 (2%) 0 1 (1%) Nausea 0 0 0 3 (3%) Flushing 0 0 1(1%) 1 (1%) ^(a)The types listed are those with incidence ≥5% amongbremelanotide users at any dose. ^(b)The types listed are those thatoccurred in >1 bremelanotide user across dosing groups.

Thus in premenopausal women with FSDs, bremelanotide self-administeredat home at 1.25 and 1.75 mg SC was effective in decreasing distress,increasing arousal and desire, and increasing the number of SSEs, withrobust dose response and consistency of effect across all key endpoints.Efficacy was seen in both HSDD and mixed HSDD/FSAD populations. Theseimprovements continued throughout the treatment period, indicating thatpatients may be able to continue improving after three months oftreatment. Women receiving bremelanotide were more likely thanplacebo-treated women to reach key score thresholds for both FSFI andFSDS-DAO. Bremelanotide was generally well tolerated.

Example 2

Comparison of results of the study of Example 1 with prior intranasalstudies of bremelanotide in premenopausal and postmenopausal women withFSAD showed significantly different parameters for both efficacy andadverse events. Results with premenopausal women in aplacebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, at-homeexploratory study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intranasallyadministered bremelanotide in subjects with female sexual arousaldisorder (FSAD) were compared against results in the study of Example 1.In the intranasal study, a total of 76 premenopausal subjects wererandomized, with 40 subjects to receive bremelanotide and 36 to receiveplacebo. Twenty-two subjects treated with bremelanotide and 29 treatedwith placebo completed the study, with 16 subjects who receivedbremelanotide (40%) discontinuing from the study due to an adverseevent. This compares to the study of Example 1, in which as shown byTable 6 only 8% of subjects on the 1.75 mg subcutaneous dosediscontinuing due to an adverse event.

In the intranasal study, premenopausal women self-administered a 10 mgintranasal dose. At 30 minutes post dosing, this resulted in a Cmax meanof 88.5±51.9 ng/mL, a median Cmax of 81.1 ng/mL, % CV of 58.6, a minimumCmax of 0 ng/mL and a maximum Cmax of 207 ng/mL. By contrast, in thestudy of Example 1 at the 1.75 mg subcutaneous dose level, the mean Cmaxwas 77.2±19.5 ng/mL, the median was 78 ng/mL, % CV was 25, the minimumwas 15 ng/mL and the maximum was 115 ng/mL.

Subjects who experienced vomiting, nausea or both following in-clinicdosing in the intranasal study had a substantial higher pK concentrationof bremelanotide than subjects who did not experience these symptoms.Thus pK variability with intranasal administration had a direct impacton adverse events, and contributed to adverse events. Similarly,stratification of subject arousal rate and level of desire success rateby pK concentration group showed a larger change in subject arousal rateand level of desire success rate from baseline to visits 3 and 4 in theintranasal study in subjects with a bremelanotide concentration between50 to <100 ng/mL than subjects with a lower or higher bremelanotideconcentration. Thus variability in the effective dose with intranasaladministration contributed to both increased adverse events anddecreased efficacy, compared to administration of a 1.25 mg or 1.75 mgsubcutaneous dose.

Although the invention has been described in detail with particularreference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achievethe same results. Variations and modifications of the present inventionwill be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to coverall such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of allreferences, applications, patents, and publications cited above arehereby incorporated by reference.

What is claimed is: 1-3. (canceled)
 4. A method for treating femalesexual dysfunction in a female patient diagnosed with female sexualdysfunction and anticipating sexual activity, the method comprisingadministering to the female patient by subcutaneous injection acomposition comprising bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt of bremelanotide, thereby treating female sexual dysfunction whilereducing or minimizing side effects compared to intranasaladministration of an equivalent dosage of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide, wherein thecomposition comprises no more than about 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide, and wherein theadministering results in improved overall sexual function as measured bya Female Sexual Function Index total score improvement of 3 or greater.5. The method of claim 4, wherein the composition is an aqueous solutioncomprising an acetate salt of bremelanotide and glycerin.
 6. The methodof claim 5, wherein the composition comprises 2.5% glycerin (w/v). 7.The method of claim 5, wherein the acetate salt of bremelanotide isbetween 6% and 12% acetic acid (w/w) in an aqueous solution ofbremelanotide.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the composition has apH of about 5.0, and wherein the composition further comprises one ormore agents to adjust pH.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one ormore agents to adjust pH are selected from the group consisting ofhydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide.
 10. The method of claim 4,wherein the female patient is premenopausal.
 11. The method of claim 4,wherein the female patient is postmenopausal.
 12. The method of claim 4,wherein the variability in peak plasma concentration within 60 minutesafter subcutaneous administration of the composition is less than thevariability in peak plasma concentration within 60 minutes afterintranasal administration of an equivalent dosage of bremelanotide or apharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the variability in peak plasma concentration within 60minutes after intranasal administration is a % CV greater than
 30. 14.The method of claim 4, wherein the peak plasma concentration ofbremelanotide is at least 60 ng/mL.
 15. The method of claim 4, whereinthe female sexual dysfunction comprises is hypoactive sexual desiredisorder.
 16. The method of claim 4, wherein the female sexualdysfunction is decreased sexual desire.
 17. The method of claim 4,wherein the composition comprises between 1.25 mg and 1.75 mg ofbremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide.18. The method of claim 4, wherein the side effects comprise one or moreof nausea, flushing, headache, changes in systolic blood pressure,changes in diastolic blood pressure, changes in heart rate, vomiting,and hypertension.
 19. A method for treating female sexual dysfunction ina female patient diagnosed with female sexual dysfunction andanticipating sexual activity, the method comprising administering to thefemale patient by subcutaneous injection a composition comprisingbremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide,thereby treating female sexual dysfunction while reducing or minimizingside effects compared to intranasal administration of an equivalentdosage of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt ofbremelanotide, wherein the composition comprises no more than about 1.75mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt ofbremelanotide, and wherein the administering results in reduced distressrelated to sexual dysfunction as measured by a reduction in a FemaleSexual Distress Scale-DAO total score improvement of about 11.1.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the variability in peak plasma concentrationwithin 60 minutes after subcutaneous administration of the compositionis less than the variability in peak plasma concentration within 60minutes after intranasal administration of an equivalent dosage ofbremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of bremelanotide.21. The method of claim 20, wherein the composition is an aqueoussolution comprising an acetate salt of bremelanotide and glycerin. 22.The method of claim 20, wherein the composition comprises between 1.25mg and 1.75 mg of bremelanotide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt ofbremelanotide.
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein the side effectscomprise one or more of nausea, flushing, headache, changes in systolicblood pressure, changes in diastolic blood pressure, changes in heartrate, vomiting, and hypertension.